Conveyor system for dividing a line of articles into several discrete lanes

ABSTRACT

Noncircular articles are fed in a single line on a primary conveyor, and a pair of take away conveyors are provided on either side thereof for receiving articles diverted from the primary conveyor. A pair of pocket chain conveyors have facing runs traveling downstream at a slightly slower speed than that of the primary and take away conveyors. U-shaped pockets are mounted at staggered locations on these pocket chain conveyors, and move inwardly to releasably grip the articles to be diverted, and once an article has been so gripped these pockets move outwardly to divert the article onto an associated take away conveyor. An article-stripping bar acts on the article so diverted, releasing it from the U-shaped pocket, which pocket then travels upstream for diverting another article. With two take away conveyors, every third article is allowed to pass between the pocket chain conveyors and three discrete lanes of articles are provided.

Enited States Patent Eaudat et al.

[451 Ian. 1&1972

[72] Inventors: John L. Raudat, North Madison; Lloyd D.

Johnson, Portland; Anthony L. Cuneo, Chester, all of Conn.

[73] Assignee: Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn.

[22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1970 21 Applr No.: 13,639

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 687,587 2/1940 Germany ..198/31 A1Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-11. S. LaneAttorney-McCormick, Paulding & Huber ABSTRACT Noncircular articles arefed in a single line on a primary conveyor, and a pair of take awayconveyors are provided on either side thereof for receiving articlesdiverted from the primary conveyor. A pair of pocket chain conveyorshave facing runs traveling downstream at a slightly slower speed thanthat of the primary and take away conveyors. U-shaped pockets aremounted at staggered locations on these pocket chain conveyors, and moveinwardly to releasably grip the articles to be diverted, and once anarticle has been so gripped these pockets move outwardly to divert thearticle onto an associated take away conveyor. An article-stripping baracts on the article so diverted, releasing it from the U-shaped pocket,which pocket then travels upstream for diverting another article. Withtwo take away conveyors, every third article is allowed to pass betweenthe pocket chain conveyors and three discrete lanes of articles areprovided.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN] 8 I972 SHEET 1 OF 2 1 mi Km MLif |w @JHMQ iii U II Iii? PATENTEnJmamn 3635.322

SHEET 2 [IF 2 CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR DIVIDING A LINE OF ARTICLES INTOSEVERAL DISCRETE LANES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various prior artdevices have been devised for dividing a single line of articles intotwo or more discrete lanes US. Pat. No. 2,273,509 issued to Braren Feb.17, 1942 shows one construction wherein a pair of star wheels are drivenin opposite directions to divert one circular article in one lateraldirection, and a succeeding article in the opposite direction toassociated take away conveyors downstream of, or along side a primaryconveyor. The star wheel configuration has been found to be entirelysatisfactory for articles of circular configuration, but unsuitable fordiverting noncircular articles.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,923,395 issued to Von I-Iofe Feb. 2, 1960 shows a pairof lead screws driven in opposite directions on either side of a primaryconveyor, for diverting noncircular articles laterally outwardly intodiscrete lanes. While this apparatus is specifically designed fornoncircular articles, it has several disadvantages as compared to thestar wheel construction for diverting circular articles. For example,the screw construction is much more expensive to fabricate, everyarticles size requiring its own leftand right-hand screws.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an ap paratus fordividing articles into several discrete lanes from a continuous singleline, especially for diverting articles having a noncircularconfiguration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention aprimary conveyor is provided with lane defining means for directing aline of articles single file into an articlediverting area defined by apair of horizontally opposed pocket chain conveyors one of which isassociated with each of two take away conveyors. The take away conveyorsare located one on either side of the primary conveyor to provide threediscrete lanes for the diverted articles. The pocket chain conveyorsdefine a converging space therebetween wherein U-shapedarticle-receiving pockets move inwardly to resiliently grasp an articleto be diverted between their associated leg portions. A diverging spaceis defined further downstream between the pocket chain conveyors with athroat area therebetween. The articles are diverted laterally outwardlyoff the primary conveyor onto the associated take away conveyors in thediverging space, and an article stripping bar is provided for urgingeach article out of its U-shaped pocket onto one of the take awayconveyors. For each two articles diverted onto the two take awayconveyors a third article is allowed to pass through the throat on theprimary conveyor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an apparatusembodying the present invention, with an upper support plate broken awayto reveal the two pocket chain conveyors.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,showing the drive means for the two pocket chain conveyors.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing one of the noncircular articlesreleasably held in one of the U-shaped pockets carried by the pocketchain conveyor.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the article shown in FIG. 3, with the U-shapedpocket releasably holding said article for movement in the direction ofthe arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to thedrawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a conventional endless primaryconveyor which is continuously driven in a longitudinal direction asindicated by the arrow 12 from left to right so as to feed a single lineof articles A, A in a downstream direction between vertically spacedlane-defining guide bars 14, 14a and 16, 16a. As shown in FIG. 3 theselane-defining guide bars, 14 and 14a are located in vertically spacedrelationship with respect to the pocket chain conveyor indicatedgenerally at 32 for a purpose to be discussed in greater detailhereinbelow.

A pair of take away conveyors l8 and 20 are arranged on opposite sidesof the primary conveyor 10 and each of these also has associatedlane-defining means, indicated generally at 22 and 24 with respect tothe outside limit of the lane defined on each of said take awayconveyors, and as indicated generally at 26 and 28 with respect to theinside limit of these lanes. The upstream ends of these take awayconveyors are rotatably supported on a pair of drums (not shown) mountedon the shaft 68 to be described.

Two pocket chain conveyors 30 and 32 are associated with each of thetake away conveyors l8 and 20 respectively, and it will be apparent fromFIG. I that each of these is symmetrically arranged with respect to thelongitudinal center line defined by the primary conveyor 10. Forexample, the pocket chain conveyor 30 associated with take away conveyor18 is of the same length as the pocket chain conveyor 32 associated withthe take away conveyor 20 and both travel in horizontal paths which aresimilar to one another though opposite in direction. These pocket chainconveyors comprise conventional chains entrained over three sprockets34, 36 and 38 as sociated with each conveyor, and more particularly,their inner or downstream runs define a converging space between thesprockets 34, 34 and the somewhat larger sprockets 38, 38. The twopocket chain conveyors 30 and 32, in the area of the larger sprockets38, 38 cooperate to define a throat opening and between said sprockets38, 38 and the downstream sprockets 36, 36 define a diverging spacewherein the inner or downstream run of each of said pocket chainconveyor moves obliquely across its associated take away conveyor.

Each pocket chain conveyor has provided thereon a plurality of U-shapedpockets mounted at spaced locations, which locations are staggered onthe one conveyor 30 with respect to the other 32 so that for everyarticle A allowed to proceed downstream on the primary conveyor 10, onearticle is diverted from the primary conveyor onto one take awayconveyor l8, and also one article is diverted onto the other take awayconveyor 20. Thus, it will be apparent that each of the pocket chainconveyors moves in a closed horizontal path and in timed but staggeredrelationship to the pockets of its counterpart so that for every articlediverted onto the first of the above-mentioned take away conveyors 18 asubsequent article is diverted onto the second take away conveyor 20 inthe diverging space defined between the downstream segments of thepocket chain conveyors defined between the throat as sociated sprockets38 and 38, the downstream sprockets 36 and 36.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the configuration of eachof the pockets on the pocket chain conveyors 30 and 32, FIG. 3 shows thefixed lane-defining guide bars 14 and 14a on one side of a noncirculararticle A of the type adapted to be handled by the present device, andon the rear side of said article A there is shown a pocket chainconveyor 30 having a generally U-shaped resilient pocket 40 carriedthereby, and with forwardly protruding leg portions adapted to at leastpartially encircle the article to releasably hold it. As the primaryconveyor 10 moves in the direction of the arrow I2, as indicated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the leading or front leg portion 42 of the U-shapedpocket can be seen to engage the front face of the generally squarebottle shown, and the rear or trailing leg portion 44 of the U-shapedpocket can be seen to be in engagement with the rear face of the articleA. As best shown in FIG. 4, the U-shaped pocket is connected to one link31 of the chain 30, and said link 31 is provided with a shoelike member33 which serves to maintain the U-shaped pocket 40 in the orientationshown with respect to the chain 30 as the latter passes around one ofthe above-mentioned sprockets 34, 36 and 38. The U-shaped pocket 40 moreparticularly includes a base portion 46 which is secured to thisshoelike portion 33 and is preferably fabricated from spring steel orsimilar material. As so constructed the leg portions 42 and 44 havesufficient resiliency whereby they can releasably grip the article A,especially where said article is generally square with concave sides asin the configuration shown.

It will be apparent from FIG. 1 that as these U-shaped pockets 40 movelaterally inwardly toward the primary conveyor, and between thevertically spaced guide rails forming the lane-defining means 14 and 16on the primary conveyor, these leg portions will be entered into thespaces provided between adjacent articles A, A on the primary conveyor10. These leg portions 42 and 44 will be spread slightly as a result ofthis inward motion so that the end portions of said leg portions arereceived in the concavely shaped front and rear faces of the articles A,A. The fixed vertically spaced guide rails 14, 14a and 16, 16a provide aconvenient reactive surface against which the pockets can act to permitsaid leg portions to be so inserted between the articles, and to so gripthe articles.

As will be apparent from FIG. 1 these pockets are mounted to theirassociated pocket chain conveyors in staggered relationship so that onearticle proceeds downstream on the primary conveyor and a succeedingarticle is diverted in one lateral direction onto the first take awayconveyor 18, whereas the third article is diverted in the oppositelateral direction onto the second take away conveyor 20. This cyclerepeats itself continuously during operation of the subject device. Inorder to strip or release an article A from its associated U- shapedpocket, the take away conveyors l8 and 20 have associated therewithupstream segments 22a and 24a of their outer lane'defining walls, 22 and24 respectively, which segments also comprise vertically spaced railspassing one above and one below the path of the pocket chain conveyorand its associated U-shaped pocket. For example, the adjustably mountedguide rail section 24a associated with the outer limit lane-definingmeans 24 can be seen to be in the process of stripping an article A fromits associated pocket 40 so that the article is free to travel with thesecond take away conveyor 20 in the manner just described. A similarsegment 22a associated with the outer limit of the lane-defining means22 associated with the first take away conveyor 18 serves a similarfunction to be carried out at a slightly later instant of time duringthe cycle.

It will also be apparent from FIG. 1 that the space provided between thedownstream pocket chain conveyor segments passing between the sprockets36 and the throat-defining sprockets 38 comprises an area where thearticles A are free to be diverted from the primary conveyor 10 to oneor the other of the two take away conveyors l8 and 20. Moreparticularly, the upstream ends of the inner limits of the paths ofmovement of the diverted articles associated with the take awayconveyors l8 and 20 can be seen to terminate adjacent the downstream endof this divergent space. The actual location, in the longitudinaldirection, for the termination of these lane defining members 26 and 28can be seen to be located slightly downstream of the intersectionbetween the path of movement of the pocket chain conveyors 30 and 32 andtheir associated article stripping or releasing members 22a and 24a.This configuration provides adequate clearance for the slight turningmovement required of the noncircular articles as they are being divertedfrom the primary conveyor 10 onto an associated take away conveyor 18 or20.

The downstream runs of the pocket chain conveyors 30 and 32 defining theconvergent and divergent space upstream and downstream, respectively, ofthe throat associated sprockets 38, 38 are preferably confined bysuitable chain associated track means 50, 52, 54 and 56 in order toproperly guide and restrain the chain during its travel between theassociated sprockets. For example, the track means 50 provided betweenthe upstream sprocket 34 and throat associated sprocket 38 confines thepocket chain conveyor 32 to move in a linear fashion from a pointtangent to the upstream sprocket 34 to a point where it is tangent tothe throat associated sprocket 38. The same is true of the track means52 and associated with the first mentioned pocket chain conveyor 30.

In the confining of the pocket chain conveyors 30 and 32 in thedivergent space downstream of the throat, arcuately shaped members ofconvex external contour are provided between the throat associatedsprockets 38, 38 and the downstream sprockets 36, 36. Actually, thethroat is defined between upstream end portions of these members 54 and56, and it will be apparent from FIG. 1 that these convex shapes areadapted to gradually accelerate the articles A, A in the lateraldirection as they are being diverted onto the take away conveyors I8 and20 so as to preclude inadvertent release of an article A from itsassociated pocket 40 during this diverging operation. This particularshape for the pocket-chain-confining means associated with the divergingspace has been found particularly advantageous when the apparatus isoperated at high speed, or at any time when the articles A, A exertsignificant inertial force upon their associated pockets, such as inhandling relatively large glass articles such as quart or half-gallonsize milk bottles.

FIG. 2 shows the apparatus, omitted from FIG. 1 for the purposes ofclarity, which apparatus is adapted to drive the pocket chain conveyors30 and 32 in timed relationship with one another. Means, indicatedgenerally at 60, is provided to one side of the first-mentioned pocketchain conveyor, and has associated therewith an output shaft on which isprovided a sprocket 62 for operating the take away conveyors l8 and 20through drive means indicated generally at 64 in FIG. 1. The drive means64 is entrained over a sprocket 66 which is rotated by the cross shaft68 forming a part of, and continually driven by the first and the secondtake away conveyors l8 and 20. Still with reference to FIG. 2, theoutput shaft of the means 60 is adapted to operate both pocket chainconveyors through depending shafts 70 and 72, which shafts carrysprocket means for driving these pocket chain conveyors (not shown inthis view). These depending shafts 70 and 72 are driven through suitablegearing indicated generally at 74 and 76, a second cross shaft 78 beingprovided therebetween as shown. As so constructed and arranged it willbe apparent that the pocket chain conveyors are adapted to be driven intimed relationship with one another, and with their associated take awayconveyors 18 and 20. The speed of operation of the primary conveyor 10need only be sufficient to provide the apparatus with a supply ofarticles to be diverted. As mentioned above the pocket chain conveyorsare driven at a speed slightly faster than that of the take awayconveyors.

A limit switch 80 is provided in the position shown, so that when themachine or apparatus described herein is to be shut down for any reason,the articles A, A located in the diverging space will proceed downstreamin their associated conveyors, but articles provided in the throat areabetween the pocket chain conveyors will be held in an upright positionand will not tend to topple. More particularly, the limit switch 80 isprovided in an electrical series circuit with a conventional on-offswitch for operation of the drive means for the take away conveyors (notshown). Highand low-limit switches are also provided (not shown)adjacent the upstream portion of the primary conveyor 10 and slightlydownstream of the diverging space respectively for conventionaloperation and control of the apparatus described herein.

To summarize briefly the operation of the apparatus disclosed herein, aprimary or infeed conveyor 10 is provided for bringing a continuous lineof articles A, A to be diverted into discrete lanes. A pair of take awayconveyors are arranged on opposite sides of the primary conveyor, andpocket chain conveyors associated with said take away conveyors areadapted to divert one article into each of said take away conveyors foreach article conveyed downstream on the primary conveyor. The pocketchain conveyors each include a plurality of pockets 40, 40 mounted instaggered relationship to the pocket chain conveyors for engaging thesearticles to divert them in a diverging space provided for this purpose.The pockets are generally U-shaped and move in a closed horizontal pathin timed relationship to the articles being fed by the primary conveyor,and the path of movement of each includes a downstream run wherein thepocket first moves inwardly so that its leg portions are insertedbetween adjacent articles to releasably retain an article in each of thepockets. The pockets then move laterally outwardly across an associatedone of the take away conveyors to divert that particular article off theprimary conveyor and onto the take away conveyor. Articlestripping meansin the form of guide bars are provided above and below the pocket chainconveyor in the area of the take away conveyors for releasing thearticle so that it can travel downstream on its associated take awayconveyor.

We claim:

1. The combination comprising a primary conveyor upon which a continuousline of articles are continuously fed in a downstream direction, atleast one take away conveyor alongside said primary conveyor, a pocketchain conveyor having a plurality of U-shaped pockets at spacedlocations thereon, each pocket including resiliently mounted from andrear legs for engaging the front and rear sides respectively of one ofsaid articles to releasably hold the article in said pocket, said pocketchain conveyor causing its associated pockets to move in a closedhorizontal path and in timed relationship to the primary conveyor, whichpath includes a downstream run wherein said pockets first move inwardlyso that said legs are inserted between articles in the continuous lineto releasably hold one article and then move outwardly obliquely awayfrom said primary conveyor across said take away conveyor to divert thatparticular article off said primary conveyor and onto said take awayconveyor and said U-shaped pockets being spaced from one another on saidpocket chain conveyor to provide blank spaces therebetween for allowingan article to continue on said primary conveyor for every article sodiverted.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 further characterized by a secondtake away conveyor on the opposite side of said primary conveyor, asecond pocket chain conveyor associated with said second take awayconveyor and having a plurality of said resiliently constructed pocketsat spaced locations thereon, said second pocket chain conveyor beingsymmetrically arranged with respect to said first pocket chain conveyorto define a converging space therebetween leading to a throat openingand a diverging space downstream of the throat, said pockets on saidsecond pocket chain conveyor moving in a closed horizontal path and intimed but staggered relationship to the pockets of said first-mentionedpocket chain conveyor so that for every article diverted onto said firstmentioned take away conveyor a subsequent article is diverted onto saidsecond take away conveyor in said diverging space and said U- shapedpockets on each of said take away conveyors, being spaced from oneanother on said respective conveyors to provide blank spacestherebetween for allowing every third article on said primary conveyorto continue in a straight line.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 further characterized bylane-defining guide means for said primary conveyor to restrain the lineof articles to movement in a continuous line through said convergingspace between said pocket chain conveyors and to provide a reactivesurface against which said pockets can act to permit said legs to be soinserted and said articles to be releasably held therebetween.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 further characterized by lanedefining guide means for said take away conveyors and including at leastone guide rail defining the outside limit of the path of movement ofthose articles diverted onto each of said take away conveyors, each ofsaid guide rails including an upstream segment which extends across thepath of movement of an associated pocket chain conveyor in saiddiverging space for releasing the diverted articles from said pocketsagainst the restraining force exerted by the legs of said pockets.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said lane defining guidemeans for said take away conveyors further include guides defining theinner limit of the path of movement of said diverted articles, saidinner limit guides having their upstream ends terminating slightlydownstream of that location in said diverging space defined by thecrossin of said pocket chain conveyors and said article releasing gur erails to provide adequate clearance for any turning movement required ofsaid articles especially when said articles are not of axiallysymmetrical shape.

6. The combination recited in claim 4 further characterized by a set ofat least three sprockets associated with each of said pocket chainconveyors, one sprocket in each set located adjacent the throat, and theother two sprockets in each set located at the upstream end of theconvergent space and the downstream end of the divergent spacerespectively and track means for slidably supporting said pocket chainconveyors as they run between the sprockets defining said divergentspace.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein said track means forslidably supporting said pocket chain conveyor runs defining saiddivergent space comprising arcuately shaped members having a convexcontour which permit the articles being diverted to be acceleratedgradually in the outward lateral direction associated with theparticular pockets on said pocket chain conveyors.

1. The combination comprising a primary conveyor upon which a continuousline of articles are continuously fed in a downstream direction, atleast one take away conveyor alongside said primary conveyor, a pocketchain conveyor having a plurality of U-shaped pockets at spacedlocations thereon, each pocket including resiliently mounted front andrear legs for engaging the front and rear sides respectively of one ofsaid articles to releasably hold the article in said pocket, said pocketchain conveyor causing its associated pockets to move in a closedhorizontal path and in timed relationship to the primary conveyor, whichpath includes a downstream run wherein said pockets first move inwardlyso that said legs are inserted between articles in the continuous lineto releasably hold one article and then move outwardly obliquely awayfrom said primary conveyor across said take away conveyor to divert thatparticular arTicle off said primary conveyor and onto said take awayconveyor and said Ushaped pockets being spaced from one another on saidpocket chain conveyor to provide blank spaces therebetween for allowingan article to continue on said primary conveyor for every article sodiverted.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 further characterized bya second take away conveyor on the opposite side of said primaryconveyor, a second pocket chain conveyor associated with said secondtake away conveyor and having a plurality of said resilientlyconstructed pockets at spaced locations thereon, said second pocketchain conveyor being symmetrically arranged with respect to said firstpocket chain conveyor to define a converging space therebetween leadingto a throat opening and a diverging space downstream of the throat, saidpockets on said second pocket chain conveyor moving in a closedhorizontal path and in timed but staggered relationship to the pocketsof said first-mentioned pocket chain conveyor so that for every articlediverted onto said first mentioned take away conveyor a subsequentarticle is diverted onto said second take away conveyor in saiddiverging space and said U-shaped pockets on each of said take awayconveyors, being spaced from one another on said respective conveyors toprovide blank spaces therebetween for allowing every third article onsaid primary conveyor to continue in a straight line.
 3. The combinationrecited in claim 2 further characterized by lane-defining guide meansfor said primary conveyor to restrain the line of articles to movementin a continuous line through said converging space between said pocketchain conveyors and to provide a reactive surface against which saidpockets can act to permit said legs to be so inserted and said articlesto be releasably held therebetween.
 4. The combination recited in claim3 further characterized by lane defining guide means for said take awayconveyors and including at least one guide rail defining the outsidelimit of the path of movement of those articles diverted onto each ofsaid take away conveyors, each of said guide rails including an upstreamsegment which extends across the path of movement of an associatedpocket chain conveyor in said diverging space for releasing the divertedarticles from said pockets against the restraining force exerted by thelegs of said pockets.
 5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein saidlane defining guide means for said take away conveyors further includeguides defining the inner limit of the path of movement of said divertedarticles, said inner limit guides having their upstream ends terminatingslightly downstream of that location in said diverging space defined bythe crossing of said pocket chain conveyors and said article releasingguide rails to provide adequate clearance for any turning movementrequired of said articles especially when said articles are not ofaxially symmetrical shape.
 6. The combination recited in claim 4 furthercharacterized by a set of at least three sprockets associated with eachof said pocket chain conveyors, one sprocket in each set locatedadjacent the throat, and the other two sprockets in each set located atthe upstream end of the convergent space and the downstream end of thedivergent space respectively and track means for slidably supportingsaid pocket chain conveyors as they run between the sprockets definingsaid divergent space.
 7. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein saidtrack means for slidably supporting said pocket chain conveyor runsdefining said divergent space comprising arcuately shaped members havinga convex contour which permit the articles being diverted to beaccelerated gradually in the outward lateral direction associated withthe particular pockets on said pocket chain conveyors.